H & R or Rossi 44 magnum or 45 colt

[Jacko]

Gidday folks , first post here . I am really impressed with the diversity of this site . I am firstly a bowhunter and have spent years hunting with Traditional gear and recently have rekindled an interest in firearm hunting . I use a side by side 12 guage , a SMLE .303 and a .22 magnum .

I have decided I want the simplicity of a single shot rifle in either 44 magnum or 45 colt to compliment the close range Pig and Goat hunting I do . I will be fitting a scope . In Australia you are looking at 3 or 4 times the US price for any firearm and I have not been able to find other single shots in this country in my price range . I would love to rechamber a Martini action but this is an expensive exercise here . I am beginning to question if I should save an extra couple of hundred and get a lever action instead as I read so many conflicting reports on the quality and accuracy of both the H & R and the Rossi . I would appreciate any some real world personel experiences with current production run Rossi's or H & R rifles as most of the info I have found is several years old . I am dead keen to stay with a single shot , I appreciate  functional more than pretty .

regards Jacko

I most likely will not be handloading and so lean towards the 44 magnum as hotter factory loads are readily available

[quickdtoo]

Welcome to GBO Jacko!!  The H&R is factory available in both chamberings, you should post on the H&R Centerfire forum for more info specific to the H&Rs, I have both, they're good shooters, although I haven't used factory ammo in the 45Colt, the 44mag shoots under 2" at 100yds with hard sights using the Hornday 225gr Leverevolution ammo.  One concern on the 44mag, any made before 2007 were considerably overbore and didn't shoot .429-.430" bullets well,  Marlin started making the barrels in early 2007 and solve that problem.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?action=collapse;c=12;sa=expand#12

[Jacko]

Thanks for the reply Tim , I had read posts on the H & R forum and Rossi forum but decided to post here for a broader opinion . Thanks for the heads up on the 44 magnum leverevolution ammo , I meet a bloke on the weekend using it out of his Marlin leveraction 45.70 and he liked how it shot as well . Seems like good stuff , handi for that occasional longer shot across a deep gully .

regards Jacko

[Graybeard]

The problem with posting here for a broader opinion is that this forum is little used not even as much so as the Rossi Forum and certainly not even remotely so much so as the NEF/H&R which is the most used forum on the site. You'll likely get a few posts here but not that many.

Why not ask on both the other forums and that way you'll get opinions on both guns from the folks who prefer to use that one. Here you'll get a few comments but not like on the other two forums.

This one has always tended toward the more expensive single shots like the Ruger, Winchester/Browning HW/LW, Sharps and such.

[Jacko]

Thankyou  Graybeard


regards Jacko

[MarkNJ]

Jacko, have you considered the Baikal IZH-18MH. They are available here in NZ for only $300, in calibers like 223, 270, 30/06, 308 and the 7.62x39. Based on a hammerless shotgun action, they are known for ruggedness and durability.

cheers

[Jacko]

A mate of mine has the Baikal in 7.62 X 39 . A month back a mate and I where plinking in the last hour of a hunt , my mate loved my SMLE and I was impressed no end with the accuracy and rugged simplicity of his Baikal [ I love my SMLE so no chance of a swap ]. If they came in a 45.70 , 45 colt ,44 mag or 357 mag I would snap one up .

My heart is set on one of the above calibres , trouble is my wallet wont stretch to a Thompson Contender/ Encore or a Ruger or building a custom Martini . Will know in a weak or two if I weaken and get a Baikal - they do have a solid reliable reputation just a boring calibre range .

Now I wonder if I could rebarrel the Baikal 

regards Jacko

[MarkNJ]

I'm sure a good gunsmith can easily rebarrel a Baikal to whatever caliber you choose 
Or perhaps Jacko, re-boring the 7.62x39 barrel to 38/357.
To rebarrel anything over here starts at NZ$500. Cheaper just to buy the gun

My father hopes to buy a single shot very soon, either Baikal or Rossi Pomba. Like me, he will shoot subsonic handloads so a fast barrel twist is important to him.

cheers

[Jacko]

Thanks for the reply's Mark , made a final decision in the last few hours . I was not seriously entertaining rebarreling a Bailal . I could also pick up a 310 Martini Cadet in good order for a couple of hundred and have it rebarrelled for another $500 , bit of reblueing , refinish the ugly woodwork into refinished plain woodwork , track down a tang mounted peep and have change out of a grand for a rifle worth $400 when its finished  - and my wife thinks my archery is an expensive pastime .

I am calling by the local gunshop monday and will order a H & R Handi rifle synthetic 357 magnum , cheap to shoot factory ammo and cheaper to reload - perhaps build up a pet 180 grain cast boolit load , good pig and goat medicine and will handle the rare deer I may see while hunting as well .The action has been around for a very long time with millions produced . I have meet a couple of fella's with 45.70 Handi's that like them a lot so I am quite content with my choice

regards Jacko

[dpe.ahoy]

I don't think you will go wrong with that choice.  I have 3 of the H&R 357's and 2 levers as well.  One Marlin and one Rossi, both shoot good.  Also have 44 mag and 45 colt in H&R's and in levers and you would love em both if you reload for the 45 colt.  I have Rossi levers in 357, 44 mag and 454 casull that I shoot 45 colts in.  If you don't need scopes they are great little guns, if the eyes are tired like mine the Marlins are the way to go for levers.  As for the H&R's, I have 17 frames and extra barrels, so you know I like them also.  Not sure how frantic your pig hunting is, the lever might work better if you need a second shot.  Glad to "meet" ya, keep us posted on what ya do.  "See" ya on the H&R site.  DP

[AtlLaw]

I could also pick up a 310 Martini Cadet in good order for a couple of hundred

That makes me want to cry...    I'd buy a half dozen at that price...

[Jacko]

AtlLaw take 30% off those prices as your dollar is stronger than ours  . Good luck with the permits to aquire and customs regulations


regards Jacko

[AtlLaw]

take 30% off those prices as your dollar is stronger than ours 

Thanks Jacko...    That makes me feel a LOT better!